The BeachGolfLife Insider — March 2026

St. Patrick’s Day, Spring Break & Spring Golf Season

Last Saturday I walked down Main Street at 9 AM to grab coffee. Three storefronts had fresh green bunting in the windows. A crew was stringing lights across the intersection at Ocean Boulevard. Inside Fat Harold’s, someone was testing the sound system — beach music leaked through the propped-open door and drifted all the way to the crosswalk. March on the Grand Strand smells like salt air and anticipation.

In two weeks, 30,000 people will pack this same stretch of sidewalk for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. A week after that, spring break fills every restaurant on the block. And right now — today — the golf courses are still running winter rates that disappear on March 13.

This is the issue to bookmark if you’re planning a spring trip.

What’s Happening This Month

St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival — March 14

This is the big one. The 35th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival takes over Main Street in Ocean Drive on Saturday, March 14.

• Parade: 9:00 AM — over 100 entries rolling down Main Street
• Festival: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM — 100+ vendors, food, drinks, live music
• Crowd: 30,000+ people expected
• From the condo: You can walk to Main Street in about 7 minutes via the 2nd Ave N side exit (~0.4 miles)

This is the single biggest day of the year in North Myrtle Beach before summer. If you’re in town, it’s unmissable. If you’re not, it’s worth planning around. St. Patrick’s Day weekend (March 13–15) is one of the hardest weekends to book — check availability early.

Spring Break — Peak Week March 16–22

The week after St. Patrick’s Day is peak spring break on the Grand Strand. Most schools are out, the weather is warming into the upper 60s, and everything is open for the season.

• Early March (through March 7): Coastal Carolina and some college breaks — lighter crowds, lower prices
• March 16–22: Peak week — expect full restaurants, busy courses, and beach crowds
• Late March into April: Crowds taper off, weather keeps improving

If you can swing the week before peak (March 9–13), you get the St. Patrick’s Day parade AND smaller crowds. That’s the local’s play.

Alabama Theatre — March Shows

The Alabama Theatre’s ICONIC variety show runs most of March: March 2–5, 9–12, and 16–18. If you haven’t seen it yet, this is the one locals actually recommend.

Special tribute shows this month:
– March 7 — Tapestry: A Tribute to Carole King (7 PM)
– March 13 — Hotel California: A Salute to the Eagles (7 PM)
– March 14 — The Doo Wop Project (7 PM) — great post-parade evening plan

House of Blues — March Concerts

• March 8 — Aly & AJ: Places to Run Tour (7 PM)
• March 18 — Joyce Manor + Militarie Gun (6 PM)
• March 19 — Mammoth: The End Tour (7 PM)
• March 22 — Max McNown: The Cost of Growing Up Tour (7 PM)

Both venues are about 8 minutes from the condo at Barefoot Landing.

More March Events

• March 7: Myrtle Beach Marathon (full, half, 5K, and family fun run)
• March 7: SC Crawfish & Music Festival — JB’s Celebration Park, Pawleys Island. Live music, fresh crawfish, 11 AM – 6 PM
• March 19–21: Run to the Sun Car & Truck Show — ~3,200+ classic and custom vehicles, North Kings Highway
• March 27: Barefoot Landing Spring Live Music Series kicks off — free live music every Friday evening and Saturday afternoon at the Dockside Village Stage through May 23

The Local Scoop

New Spots Opening This Spring

Forget the restaurants we covered last month — here’s what’s new for your spring trip planning:

• 357 Brewers (Grande Dunes area) — This is the one I’m most excited about. Indoor/outdoor bars overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, coastal-inspired kitchen, waterfront stage, sunset deck, and a marina. Opening spring 2026.
• South Coast Beer Project (Carolina Forest) — 10,000 sq ft brewery with full-service dining, 400+ seats, outdoor lawn for live music, and a playground for kids. A legit family-friendly brewery.
• Ole Smoky Distillery & Yee-Haw Brewing Co. (Broadway at the Beach) — Beers, cocktails, food, and live entertainment. Adding to Broadway’s already packed lineup.

We’ll post honest reviews once they’re open and we’ve been there. No recommendations until we try the food — that’s always the rule.

Barefoot Landing Live Music Is Back

Starting March 27, Barefoot Landing’s free outdoor live music series runs every Friday and Saturday through late May. This is one of the best free things to do on the Grand Strand — grab dinner at one of the Landing restaurants and catch a set at the Dockside Village Stage.

Insider Tip of the Month

March 13 is the magic date for golf pricing.

Spring rates kick in at most Grand Strand courses on or around March 13. Before that date, you’re still getting winter pricing — which can be 30–50% less than spring rates. After March 13, prices jump.

Here’s what that looks like:

• Budget-friendly courses (Arrowhead, Arcadian Shores, Myrtlewood): Under $100 even at spring rates
• Premium courses (Tidewater, Caledonia, Grande Dunes): ~$136+ at spring rates
• Multi-round packages: Starting from $69/round when you book 2+ rounds through Founders Group — and they’re throwing in a $50 Adidas Rewards Card on spring packages

Course conditions in March: Bermuda grass is still mostly dormant, but courses overseed with rye for green fairways. The rough stays golden-brown, which actually makes it easier to find your ball. March is one of the driest months of the year on the Grand Strand, so rain delays are rare.

Important for late spring/summer golfers: Aeration season hits in late spring and summer. If you’re booking a May or June trip, check course aeration schedules before you lock in tee times. We’ll cover the specific dates in upcoming issues. For March, you’re in the clear — courses are in great shape.

Check our golf course guide for the best courses near the condo.

From the Blog

Fresh guides published this month:

Golf:
– Spring Golf Deals on the Grand Strand — Every current package and promotion, updated weekly
– Tidewater Golf Club Review — Why this might be the most scenic course on the East Coast

Events:
– St. Patrick’s Day Parade Guide — Parking, timing, where to watch, and what to do after
– Spring Break 2026 Planning Guide — Complete itineraries for families, couples, and golf groups

Things to Do:
– Barefoot Landing: The Complete Guide — Updated for spring 2026 with new restaurants and the live music schedule
– Rainy Day Activities — 15+ things to do when the weather doesn’t cooperate

Book Your Trip

March has two of the highest-demand weekends of spring:

• St. Patrick’s Day weekend (March 13–15) — Walk to the parade from the condo. This weekend books early.
• Spring break peak week (March 16–22) — Perfect weather, everything open, restaurants fully staffed
• Late March (March 27+) — Barefoot Landing music series starts, lighter crowds, great weather

601 Hillside Dr N at Ocean Keyes puts you about 7 minutes on foot from the parade route (via the 2nd Ave N side exit), 8 minutes by car from Barefoot Landing, and steps from the beach.

Check Availability & Book Your Stay

Talk to Us

Got a question about North Myrtle Beach? Planning a trip and need a recommendation? Just reply to this email — we read every one.

Whether it’s “which golf course should I play first?” or “where should we eat on St. Patrick’s Day?” — we’ve got you covered.

See you on the strand,
Chad
BeachGolfLife.com

P.S. Spring rates kick in at most courses on March 13. If you’re reading this before then, you can still book winter rates — some courses at 50% off what they’ll charge next week. After March 13, prices jump and they won’t come back down until November. A reader last month booked a 4-round package at Barefoot for $248 — that’s $62/round on a course that runs $130+ in peak season. Check our golf course guide for current deals →

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